Dinosaur skeleton may be of new species

THE skeleton of what could be a new dinosaur species — a giant, Patagonian plant-eater — has been uncovered in Argentina. At more than 105 feet, it is among the largest ever found, scientists said yesterday.

Scientists from Argentina and Brazil said the Patagonian dinosaur appears to represent a previously unknown species because of the unique structure of its neck. They named it Futalognkosaurus dukei after the Mapuche Indian words for “giant” and “chief”, and for Duke Energy Argentina, which helped fund the skeleton’s excavation.

“This is one of the biggest in the world and one of the most complete of these giants that exist,” said Jorge Calvo, director of paleontology centre of National University of Comahue, Argentina, lead author of a study on the dinosaur published in the Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.